You've probably heard it all before. You've heard about the Phillies being a player or two away from making a Wild Card push. You've heard that if certain players can stay healthy, the team can win nearly ninety games. You've heard that the NL East is weak, and the title is up for grabs.
Now, you and I are tired of hearing it, and we both know none of it is true. It's time to face the cold truth: this team has nowhere to go. Moving players around is going to get you nowhere. Mixing the lineup is going to get you nowhere. Signing 35 year old declining pitchers is going to get you nowhere. The run is over, and it's time to move on.
There was baseball to be played this evening, but none of it was particularly interesting. David Buchanan was tabbed to take the mound against the Washington Nationals and Jordan Zimmermann.
The Game: You read the headline, and you know what the Phillies did. Nothing. They were, somehow, able to manage six hits in what some call the Phillies' "best" lineup of the season. The only player with an extra base hit was Reid Brignac, who hit his first double of the season in the fifth. No one else had more than a single, and Ben Revere, batting eighth, grounded out FOUR TIMES IN THIS GAME.
In case you want to torture yourself with what the opposition did, here you go:
- With the bases loaded, Jayson Werth smashed a hanging pitch from David Buchanan into left field. It took a hop over the wall to become a twin-RBI ground-rule double.
- Adam LaRoche grounded out to bring home a run in the very next at bat.
- In the fifth, the Phillies opted to intentionally walk Adam LaRoche to get to Ryan Zimerman in his first game since returning from the disabled list. Zim would properly double to bring a runner in from second for a 4-0 lead.
- Ian Desmond led off the sixth with a home run.
- Denard Span singled later in the inning, and Anthony Rendon followed up with a two run home run.
That's all, folks. A 7-0 Nationals thrashing.
Impact: Look, David Buchanan should not be on a major league roster. He finished tonight with seven earned runs allowed, and not a single person should be upset with him. It is entirely out of his hands that this miserable excuse of a team has no one else to start games for them, and therefore must rely on an unseasoned rookie. Meanwhile, the offense can't even provide enough entertainment for an old folks' home. Some would argue they belong in said establishment, but that's an argument for a different night. However, it is about that time where we begin to see the trade rumors swirling.
Up Next: Veteran A.J. Burnett, the National League walk leader (37), will take to the mound on this Game Two matchup. Stephen Strasburg, who hasn't pitched less than six innings in a start since April 15th, will begin the game for Washington.
Andrew Gillen, Managing Editor of Philliedelphia.com
